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George Bowering

b. 1935

Canadian writer

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About George Bowering

Born 1935. George Bowering is a Canadian poet, historian, university teacher, writer and literary critic.

George Harry Bowering, (born December 1, 1935) is a prolific Canadian novelist, poet, historian, and biographer. He was the first Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate.

Life and career Bowering was born in Penticton, British Columbia, and raised in the nearby town of Oliver, where his father was a high-school chemistry teacher.

Bowering lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is Professor Emeritus at Simon Fraser University, where he worked for 30 years. Never having written as an adherent of organized religion, he in the past wryly described himself as a Baptist agnostic. In 2002, Bowering was appointed the first ever Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate. That same year, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2004.

When the Indian Hungryalist, also known as Hungry generation, poet Malay Roy Choudhury, was arrested at Kolkata, India, Bowering brought out a special issue of Imago for helping the Indian poet in his trial.

Bowering was one of the judges for the 2008 Griffin Poetry Prize.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of British Columbia
Positions held
Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate, Professor emeritus
Employers
Simon Fraser University, University of Calgary
Awards
Officer of the Order of Canada; Governor General's Award for English-language fiction
Also known as
George Harry Bowering

People in George Bowering's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped George Bowering's

Frequently asked questions

Who is George Bowering?

Canadian writer

When was George Bowering born?

George Bowering was born on 1 December 1935 in Penticton.

What is George Bowering's occupation?

George Bowering is a poet, historian, university teacher, writer and literary critic.

What nationality is George Bowering?

George Bowering is Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: George Bowering

· Wikidata: Q1239280

· DBpedia: George Bowering

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). George Bowering. https://biography.guide/george-bowering/

MLA: "George Bowering." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/george-bowering/.

Chicago: "George Bowering." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/george-bowering/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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